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Understanding the causes and the nature of Xenophobia in South Africa : a case study of De Doorns

Hagensen, Live (2014-12)

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014.

Thesis

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study seeks to understand the causes and nature of xenophobia in South Africa. It
investigates this through the case of De Doorns, where in November 2009 3000
Zimbabweans were chased out of their homes, which were subsequently looted and
destroyed. This case was chosen because it is an example of a xenophobic incident
that went beyond xenophobic attitudes to manifest in violent behaviour towards
African migrants.
The study was guided though three questions. (1) How can the violent
xenophobic attacks in De Doorns be explained? (2) Do the explanations for
xenophobia offer sufficient explanation for the causes and nature of xenophobia in De
Doorns? (3) Are the causes for xenophobia still evident in De Doorns? To answer the
first and third questions key informant interviews with relevant organisations were
conducted with Agri Wes-Cape, the Hex River Valley Table Grape Association and
People Against Suffering, Oppression and Poverty (PASSOP). In addition, published
work (reports and an article) has been analysed. To answer the second question,
literature on the topic of xenophobia was reviewed and the findings compared to the
answers found for the first question. The key findings in this study were, firstly, that the causes for xenophobia
were twofold: there was a context and there were underlying causes; in addition there
were specific triggers for the xenophobia. This twofold explanation is evident in
Horowitz’s ethnic violence theory, where he takes into consideration both external
contextual causes and immediate locality-bound causes. The context was the farming
community of De Doorns, characterised by casual work, job insecurity and (often)
poor living conditions. The underlying causes were found to be locals’ frustration
with and perceptions of Zimbabweans; this led to the development of xenophobic
attitudes. In addition, labour brokers were found to have worsened the situation by
encouraging causal work and by skimming off workers’ payments. Government
insufficiencies were also an underlying condition: there was lack in an early warning
system and there were service delivery failures. These underlying conditions gave a
breeding ground for the triggers of the violence to operate. These triggers were found
to be of a local political character, and these highlighted the explanatory value of
Misago’s micropolitics theory. A local councillor stirred up the xenophobia to gain
popularity for re-election before the upcoming local government elections. From this it is found that with similar or worse underlying condition xenophobia could flourish,
given the ‘right’ triggers. This is an important finding in light of the up coming local
government elections in 2016. In terms of the nature of the xenophobia in South
Africa, it is argued that this often goes beyond the expression of xenophobic attitudes,
and takes the form of violent xenophobic behaviour which is usually targeted at black
African migrants. Explanations for this violence have historical roots in the armed
struggle and it illicits a response from government. Why black Africans? Their
proximity and their vulnerability are put forward as explanations, though it is also
recognized that current explanations are insufficient.